My Blog

Posts for: April, 2015

In lieu of National Foot Health Awareness month, the National Diabetes Education Program has posted some suggestions to help protect the feet from infection and prevent serious foot problems.

Simply checking the feet every day and taking care to check between the toes and at the bottom of the foot can help reveal small cuts or blisters that may be developing. The feet should also be kept dry, particularly between the toes.

Wash the feet every day, as this promotes good health and also provides for a great time to check the feet. The feet should be kept soft and moisturized with lotion or cream to prevent cracked heels. All of these measures can pave the way for optimal daily foot care.

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. After all, without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks. It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before, for example.

For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops.

Also, wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

Gout, a very painful inflammatory arthritis caused by the crystallization of uric acid with joints, can be eased with a healthy diet. Eating cherries, in particular, were associated with a 35% lower risk of gout attacks.

Researchers have also found that a low-purine diet was also effective in lowering gout attacks, as uric acid is a break-down product of purines. Heavy alcohol consumption can also increase the odds for recurrent gout attacks, and excessive alcohol should therefore be avoided.

Researches recommend eliminating meat and seafood from the diet to lower purine intake, and combined with consuming cherries, may lower risk of gout attacks even further.

Gout is a foot condition that requires certain treatment and care. If you have any concerns regarding gout, consult with Dr. Mayer Salama, D.P.M. of Salama Foot Care. Dr. Salama will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

What is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. It often develops in the foot, especially the big toe area, although it can manifest in other parts of the body as well. Gout can make walking and standing very painful and is especially common in diabetics and the obese.

People typically get gout because of a poor diet. Genetic predisposition is also a factor. The children of parents who have had gout frequently have a chance of developing it themselves.

Gout can easily be identified by redness and inflammation of the big toe and the surrounding areas of the foot. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, joint pain, and running high fevers. Sometimes corticosteroid drugs can be prescribed to treat gout, but the best way to combat this disease is to get more exercise and eat a better diet.

Boots designed by Steven Collins and his colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University reportedly make walking easier without using any power. These energy saving boots do this thanks to a spring and clutch mechanism inspired by the Achilles tendon.

The spring stretches during the act of stepping forward while walking, which stores energy; energy is then released when the spring recoils, powering the foot to push off of the ground.

Normally one’s muscles burn energy to exert the force needed to push the body forward; the boots, however, reduce how much force is needed and therefore reduce the energy needed to walk.

The biomechanics are the moving parts that manage the movement of your feet. If you would like more information, see Dr. Mayer Salama, D.P.M. of Salama Foot Care. Dr. Salama can provide you with the foot and ankle information you seek.

A History of Biomechanics

- Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
- In 1974 biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination to the area.

Modern technology improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes providing a better understanding of podiatry concepts for biomechanics. Computers provide accurate determinations about the forces, moments and patterns of the foot and lower legs with the most important information captured.

Advances in materials and more awareness of biomechanics have developed enhanced corrective methods, offering further options for foot-related injuries. Understanding foot biomechanics can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

According to a new cardiology study, vigorous running over 7 mph, over 2.4 hours a week, more than three times a week can be as harmful as not exercising at all.

Published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, the paper suggests that there may be a point at which exertion becomes threatening and overrides the benefits of an active lifestyle. Some doctors are cautious of what the study may suggest.

Dr. David Bach, a cardiologist and avid runner, cautioned, “It’s important for people not to selectively use the research published recently as a reason not to exercise, when conditions that afflict sedentary people, like obesity and diabetes, are so prevalent.”

Maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle can promote not only foot health, but overall health. To learn more, speak with Dr. Mayer Salama, D.P.M. of Salama Foot Care. Dr. Salama will provide you with quality podiatric care.

Obesity and your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot.